Building a sustainable fundraising future with REAch2 Academy Trust

“It has been a pleasure working with the Philanthropy Company team on this project. They understood the culture and goals of the Trust very quickly and worked seamlessly with leadership, staff and Board members. Their practical approach, candour and deep experience enabled us to reach clear conclusions about the viability of future fundraising at the Trust. Their report was thorough, detailed and clear. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other organisations, and we have done.

As a testament to the progress made during phase one, we have also commissioned them to deliver a second phase of work focused on active income generation. We are excited by the potential of the Trust to achieve its fundraising goals with Philanthropy Company’s expert support.”

Katherine Alexander, Chief Operating Officer, REAch2 Academy Trust

Challenge

REAch2 Academy Trust is a primary-only academy trust comprising 65 schools, with an annual turnover of approximately £150 million. It is committed to delivering exceptional educational opportunities, particularly for children in disadvantaged areas, ensuring that every child receives the support and resources they need to excel.

As pressure on public funding continues to grow, REAch2 recognised the need to diversify its income streams to strengthen its long-term sustainability and maintain its ability to deliver transformative educational experiences for children.

REAch2 engaged Philanthropy Company in early 2026 to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study, exploring the potential for future fundraising and identifying the most viable opportunities for generating additional income.

Response

A senior Philanthropy Company team worked closely with the Trust, its leadership team and Board to build a clear understanding of its ambitions, opportunities and readiness for fundraising.

Our work included:

• Reviewing existing income generation activities.
• Conducting market research, sector benchmarking and bespoke prospect research to map the funding landscape and identify viable income generation opportunities.
• Interviewing members of the leadership team, Board and wider staff group to understand the Trust’s current challenges, priorities and aspirations.
• Facilitating group sessions to develop a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges, helping to build support for the resulting recommendations.
• Developing tailored and compelling cases for support for each identified priority area, positioning the Trust as an attractive funding opportunity.
• Undertaking financial modelling to assess potential return on investment and the resources required to support active fundraising.
• Producing a comprehensive report setting out our findings, analysis and recommendations, which we presented to the Trust’s senior leadership and Board of Trustees.

Outcome

The feasibility study gave REAch2 clear, evidence-based conclusions about the viability of future fundraising and the opportunities offering the greatest potential.

The Trust now has a practical framework for diversifying income, supported by compelling cases for support, financial modelling and recommendations for the resources required to move forward.

Following the successful completion of this initial work, REAch2 commissioned Philanthropy Company to deliver a second phase focused on active income generation. We are continuing to work alongside the Trust as it turns the study’s recommendations into action and builds a more sustainable foundation for delivering exceptional opportunities to children across its schools.